The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has cautioned the public about fraudulent SWIFT messages and false claims that foreign currency transfers are being withheld by Nigerian banks or the CBN. This warning follows rising complaints from individuals and organizations alleging uncredited overseas remittances, often supported by fake SWIFT documents.
In a statement by Hakama Sidi Ali, acting director of corporate communications, the CBN dismissed these claims, confirming that the alleged funds cannot be traced on the SWIFT platform. The apex bank clarified that it neither holds private accounts nor provides correspondent banking services for foreign payments.
The CBN urged affected individuals to trace funds through their sending bank rather than escalating to law enforcement. It also warned that anyone making baseless claims risks serious legal consequences.
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